THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14142, 18 August 1909, Page 6

THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

After a long struggle on the part of those interested in technical education, the foundation-stone of what will probably become the leading Technical College in the Dominion has been laid in Auckland. Although the Director in his address referred to the difficulties under which classes have been conducted he did not seem to realise . that it is almost unique in New Zealand for a great educational. organisation to be created without any of the provisions usually considered essential.

Departments waiting for the public to want them and-colleges waiting for students to throng them have been more usual than have co-ordin-ated classes with no common roof to cover them or great public activities with no fixed abode. Thanks to the civic spirit of the Savings Bank trustees and to the memorable generosity of Auckland citizens, this extraordinary position of Auckland Technical Education will soon be over. The good work done under the exceptional difficulties of the past and the assured standing already attained for technical education is ample guarantee of a prosperous and beneficent future for the Technical College. Lord Plunket, following the example of the King and the Prince of Wales, took pains to point out the value of technical education to a nation. This cannot be over-esti-mated. If New Zealand is to win national place among the nations, and if New Zealanders are to win the individual rewards of competence, the rising generation must learn how to develop the resources of the country and how to work understandingly and well in their every industrial occupation.